What Can Rural Surgeons Learn From Standard Business School?

BACKGROUND

The author attended a week long workshop organized by Stanford School of Business for the top 50 innovators of the India Innovation Growth Program [IIGP]. The following information is from the workshop and some of these might be of use to the surgeons working in rural areas.

THE OLFACTORY BRAIN

The olfactory system in our body is different from the other systems in that there is no censorship or filtration of the sensation by the thalamus. It is situated close to the emotional area of the brain. About 3% of the human genes code for the olfactory receptors and the micro-region or glomerulus can also detect the quantum vibration of the atoms of the odorants thus offering a wide variety of smells being detected. It represents one of the oldest sensory modalities in the phylogenetic history of mammals. As a sensor they help the detection of food and influence social and sexual behaviors.

Studies have shown that Agarbathis can cause a calming influence in 40% of people. Scent marketing is used now to market products. The aromas and ambience can help influencing the outcome of various experiences. The rural hospitals could benefit by researching the favorite aromas of the area and using them to the advantage.

THE PRE-MORTEM ANALYSIS

The pre-mortem analysis is a simple one. It asks a simple question. Write down why the hospital is failing. It is like looking back to see why there was failure before the failure or death actually occurred. It helps to implement successful corrective measures in 30%. Everyone writes down all the reasons that they can think of for the failure. The list is then reviewed and the top 10 are identified. Creating solutions are possible only when the problems are identified.

The relevance of the rural hospitals needs to keep changing with the times. Hospitals need to embrace the improvement in transport and availability of insurance programs that are now available. They need to provide modern treatment and get the necessary empanelment to stay relevant.